Politics
Simama Kenya loses yet another opportunity to galvanise support
Before the rally was called off, there were reports that some of Mr Wamalwa’s opponents had planned to disrupt it. Mr Wamalwa (above) said threats would not stop their push for a ‘generational change’ in Kenyan politics. Photo/FILE
Posted Thursday, January 28 2010 at 22:30
Counter onslaught
Mr Odinga met delegates from the 21 constituencies in Coast Province in December to counter an onslaught launched by Mr Ruto and Najib Balala (Tourism) over his leadership. Mr Odinga also led 15 Cabinet ministers and more than 50 MPs to a rally at the Tononoka Grounds in Mombasa, where he announced the ODM was still the party to beat in 2012, and that they would not be derailed from their march to State House.
Launching a countrywide drive to galvanise support for the party in Homa Bay earlier this month, Mr Odinga said the strength of the ODM lay with the masses. “The basis of a party is the grassroots and the masses. As a party, we have realised that we must reinforce the foundation. Today, we have begun a countrywide programme to meet grassroots leaders and iron out differences,” he said.
The PM maintained that the party was stronger even in territories that were formerly not friendly. A recent opinion poll showed that Mr Odinga’s popularity in Central Kenya had risen significantly, overtaking deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, who had been seen as the region’s formidable contender for the Presidency in 2012.
Additional reporting by Peter Leftie
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